According to our friends over at the Boy Genius Report, Apple’s iPhone 3G will be sold at Walmart beginning December 28th. Select Sam’s Club stores are also expected to start carrying the device.
Yesterday BGR explained that Apple’s iPhone 3G would still be coming to Walmart in 2008. First the date was rumored to be November 15th, however that turned out to be inaccurate. Now BGR has confirmed that Apple’s iPhone 3G will in fact be sold at Walmart, and select Sam’s Club stores on December 28th.
As Fortune explains, “Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retail chain — by far — with more than 7,000 mega-stores around the world and some 2.1 million employees.” A move such as this would be welcomed by Apple shareholders, as it would be positioning the device in another crucial retail outlet. Outside of Apple’s own retail stores, Best Buy, and smaller locations, this would continue to push their expansion efforts with the iPhone 3G.
We want to lay out what is now confirmed info. First and foremost, it looks like Wal-Mart will indeed begin selling the iPhone 3G on December 28th in select locations only. When all is said and done, about 2,500 locations will offer the iPhone 3G. Some stores will also be getting live demo units to display just like Best Buy Mobile. What’s more, we’re also now getting word that 69 Sam’s Club locations (locations that use the Wal-Mart ordering system, not the Radio Shack ordering system) will offer the handset as well – also beginning on the 28th.
Wal-Mart correspondence (via BGR): We are pleased to announce that Wal-Mart has reached agreement with Apple to offer iPhone 3G in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart-managed Sam’s Club* Connection Centers nationwide beginning December 28, 2008. AT&T will support Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club with the activation process for iPhone 3G, and we need all National Retail employees engaged to ensure a successful launch.
*NOTE: This product launch DOES NOT apply to SC Kiosks within Sam’s Club managed by Radio Shack.
Wal-Mart has communicated the following launch plans and execution timeline to their employees:
* iPhone 3G will be available in-store only beginning 12/28/08
* New and existing customers in good standing can purchase iPhone 3G with a 2 year contract
* iPhone 3G transactions only will be processed through POS.com, not the kioskExecution Timeline:
* 12/2 – 12/5: AT&T / Wal-Mart MEM Classroom Training for Store Leads
* 12/3 – 12/19: AT&T In-Store Training
* 12/26 – 12/27: AT&T In-Store Refresher Training
* 12/28: Nationwide Launch
* 12/28 – 12/30: Wal-Mart and AT&T War Room Support
5 Comments to “iPhone Coming to Walmart, Sam’s Club Stores December 28th”
I was thinking about this the other day. Apple is caring less and less about the actual “experience” people have when purchasing the iPhone. Welcome to the real world. If you want to get schmoozed during your checkout, then go to an Apple Store. If you want to get in, get out and get on with your life and don’t care about bullshitting with an Apple retail employee, then go to Walmart or Best Buy. Actually, employees at Best Buy tend to know less than anyone else. So, I’d just order the phone online.
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I couldn’t agree with you more.
From a business financial standpoint it makes sense. Because the more people that can access the product, the more people with the opportunity to purchase it. But it certainly takes away from the experience of the device, from the point of purchase, to the ultimate end-user experience.
And WalMart (?!?!?!??) of all places?
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I’d like to see big iPhone vending machines. In the shape of big huge iPhones.
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What about selling them at gas stations? And maybe local quickie marts?
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STREET VENDORS BABY !!! Lemme get 2 of em !!!!
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